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Snowden ready to go to Germany for inquiry

Snowden said he worked as a technical expert for the US National Security Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, and Defence Intelligence Agency

BERLIN, November 1 (Itar-Tass) - Edward Snowden is willing to come to Germany to assist investigators into alleged electronic surveillance of the US National Security Agency (NSA), as follows from his letter to the German government, the Bundestag and the prosecutor general’s office.

The document was read out on Friday by the Deputy of the German Bundestag representing the Alliance `90/The Greens faction, Hans-Christian Stroebele, who had met with the fugitive former NSA contractor in Moscow the day before.

“I look forward to speaking with you in your country when the situation is resolved,” Snowden was reported to say in his letter to German officials. “And thank you for your efforts in upholding the international laws that protect us all.”

Snowden said he worked as a technical expert for the US National Security Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, and Defence Intelligence Agency.

“I witnessed systemic violations of law by my government that created a moral duty to act,” he noted in the letter, adding that he had been “forced from his family and home” as a result of reporting these concerns. “I am currently living in exile under a grant of temporary asylum in the Russian Federation in accordance with international law,” he said.

The NSA whistleblower expressed his satisfaction with the results of his revelation of “an unaccountable system of pervasive surveillance”.

“Though the outcome of my efforts has been demonstrably positive, my government continues to treat dissent as defection, and seeks to criminalize political speech with felony charges that provide no defence,” Snowden said, adding that he is “confident” that with the support of the international community, the US government will have to renounce “this harmful behaviour”.

He also said he will be able to “cooperate in the responsible finding of fact regarding reports in the media, particularly in regard to the truth and authenticity of documents, as appropriate and in accordance with the law,” as soon as the details of his situation are resolved.

Speaking to journalists on Friday, Stroebele said Snowden was ready to go to Germany to assist investigators and did not rule out the possibility of staying as a political refugee there. Snowden had received temporary asylum in Russia, upon the expiry of which he could be granted a residential permit in Germany, the politician added.

At the same time, Snowden had some “reservations” about the alternative of German officials coming and interrogating him in Russia, Stroebele said.

The former US spy refused to discuss his security with the German lawmaker. However, when asked if he can go out shopping in Moscow, Snowden replied “yes”.

Stroebele also indicated that he had already sent a corresponding letter to the US Congress, offering to hold interparliamentary consultations on the situation. He believes they could be held byn the committees responsible for special services’ activity, and Snowden’s future is one of the main issues to be discussed there.